A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer ... more

A barge moves along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A barge moves along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to ... more

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer ... more

A towboat pushes a barge along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A towboat pushes a barge along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. ... more

Photo: Scott Dalton, Bloomberg

A towboat pushes a barge along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston,... Photo-5840493.79373 - Houston Chronicle

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Taboola Gallery Frame Item-85307.79373 - Houston Chronicle

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Towboats help barges dock along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

Towboats help barges dock along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. ... more

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer ... more

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer ... more

A boat passes a refinery standing along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A boat passes a refinery standing along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings ... more

A construction site is seen along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A construction site is seen along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. ... more

Photo: Scott Dalton, Bloomberg

A construction site is seen along the Houston Ship Channel in... Photo-5840498.79373 - Houston Chronicle

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A bird flies over barges docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A bird flies over barges docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the ... more

A construction site is seen along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A construction site is seen along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. ... more

Photo: Scott Dalton, Bloomberg

A construction site is seen along the Houston Ship Channel in... Photo-5840500.79373 - Houston Chronicle

Image 14 of 19

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer ... more

A towboat pushes a barge as a ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A towboat pushes a barge as a ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy ... more

Photo: Scott Dalton, Bloomberg

A towboat pushes a barge as a ship sits docked along the Houston... Photo-5840502.79373 - Houston Chronicle

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A towboat pushes a barge as a ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A towboat pushes a barge as a ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy ... more

Photo: Scott Dalton, Bloomberg

A towboat pushes a barge as a ship sits docked along the Houston... Photo-5840503.79373 - Houston Chronicle

Image 18 of 19

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer to energy independence, the bulk of the fuels get squeezed through Houston, the country's largest export gateway and the core of its biggest refining region. less

A ship sits docked along the Houston Ship Channel in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014. As record oil and gas output floods the country with cheap and abundant energy and brings the U.S. closer ... more